Distribution and digital transformation: The impact of NDC on the LCC market

New distribution models and IATA NDC specifically have been the topic of conversation for a number of years now, but have largely been seen as the domain of the Full Service airlines. However, the standard is not limited to this airline model or to IATA members, so why should Low Cost Carriers care about these developments in the industry?

As one the discussion topics at the forthcoming Global LCC Summit 2019, CAPA – Centre for Aviation will explore how these developments present both opportunities and threats for LCCs as they compete with each other and FSCs and how they present unique opportunities for new forms of industry cooperation.

Issues that will be considered include:

Is this increasingly fragmented and complex commercial and technological distribution landscape sustainable? How will business models evolve in response? Is there a need for a direct connect aggregator?

Should airlines build lots of direct connects or revert back to lean, centralised distribution channels?

Who is going to be offering services to bridge the gap between airlines/aggregators that are NDC compliant and those that aren’t? Will it be the GDS and IT providers, other airlines or speciality providers?

How are newer intermediaries adding value to airline distribution?

How do airlines enhance their digital shopfront? Are airlines over-emphasising the importance of airline.com over mobile messaging platforms and bot technologies?

As the foremost authority on aviation in the world, CAPA – Centre for Aviation’s events provide cutting edge knowledge about strategic market trends and dynamics to help attendees make informed decisions, delivering the information and connections needed to inspire and improve business. The Global LCC Summit will take place in Singapore between 25-26 February 2019.

LCCs have been rarely out of the news over the past 20 years as they disrupted market after market. And ever since, full service airlines have been learning from the often revolutionary methodology applied by the LCC model, in such areas as ancillary revenue as well as operational efficiencies and cost reduction. Equally, as LCCs proliferated and entered new markets, many sought to diversify, creating systems that mimicked their older peers.

The two service groups have converged to a point where full service carriers are launching LCC subsidiaries or attempting to buy independent LCCs as a means of targeting both full service and lower priced segments more effectively. Until relatively recently, dual brand strategies targeting different market segments have been rare. But the industry is now rife with such examples, notably in Asia Pacific. This combination of full service and low cost/no frills airline within one group has become a powerful combination to combat independent LCCs making inroads into the traditional leisure sector.

Of course, this has not stopped independent LCC groups from encroaching on their full service rivals. In Europe for example, LCCs have taken advantage of open skies to expand outside their home markets. Ryanair and easyJet are the region’s two largest individual airlines by passenger numbers. In other markets like Asia, where the regulatory regime is more restrictive, larger LCCs have circumvented ownership and control provisions by forming cross border JVs with local partners.

All the while there have been changes wrought by the acceleration of technological advances. New widebody and narrowbody aircraft such as the 787s and A350s, and progressively the 737MAXs and A320neos, are opening up new long distance city pairs and justifying the business case for low cost long haul operations. This is encouraging both independent LCCs and full service carriers to establish long haul arms.

The CAPA Global LCC Summit seeks to tap into the dynamic changes taking place in the airline industry and address the issues in creative and authoritative ways. This event, hosted at the Capella Singapore, is a forum for debate and discussion of this strategic issue within the aviation industry and it is attracting delegate interest from across the globe. It is a must attend for those seeking to do business with and gain inspiration from LCCs, airports, travel technology providers, OEMs and financiers.

FIND OUT MORE… visit the Global LCCs Summit 2019 homepage to find out more about this not-to-be-missed opportunity to discuss relevant issues impacting the aviation sector and learn meaningful insights from your industry peers.